Opening Statement
by the Special Coordinator of the Stability Pact
Bodo Hombach

Version in German

Ministers, Excellencies, Partners of the Stability Pact,

The Bucharest conference must send the following signal: South Eastern Europe has to remain on the agenda of international politics. The new priorities of world politics do not mean that we will reduce the attention given to the continuing challenges and problems we have identified in this part of Europe. One thing is clear: if we want to have peace and stability in all of Europe, then we have to make sustainable investments in SEE today, invest in its people, in its democracies, in its economies, in its security.

I would like to thank all those who have contributed to the realisation of this conference. My special thanks goes to the High Level Steering Group and the members of the G8, the European Union, the countries of South East Europe (SEE) and the European Commission/ World Bank Joint Office. I would like to personally thank Chris Patten and Johannes Linn who, together with me, have stood up both for the success and the venue of this conference.

This is actually the first comprehensive Regional Conference for South East Europe, taking place within South East Europe. This symbolism was exactly what we wanted. The countries of SEE are the owners of the Stability Pact, a process that aims to establish a longer-term basis for sustainable democracy, economic prosperity and security throughout the region. Therefore my special thanks goes also to the host country: Romania and Prime Minister Nastase.

This conference will also send the signal that the two-way-street concept, a basic principle of the Stability Pact, works. This concept means that the implementation of reforms and regional cooperation by SEE nations will be recognised and rewarded through the generous support of the international community. Both sides can be proud of what has been achieved - let me congratulate you on this. At the same time, all partners are aware that much still remains to be done as I have reminded them repeatedly, for some, perhaps too bluntly.

Since the conflict in Kosovo, the SEE countries have made a great leap forward and not only by establishing and consolidating democratic governments. Reading the reports prepared by the World Bank / IMF or the EBRD for this conference, one can also see that substantial efforts at reform have been made, efforts which - in the majority of cases - have been already rewarded by economic growth.

Regional cooperation, a core success story of the Stability Pact, has developed in a particularly positive way. The countries of the region have realised that this helps them to focus on and pool their joint interests, resolve cross-border problems, activate the inner strengths of the region and substantially improve their credentials for entering the EU. Thus, I believe the perception that regional cooperation acts as a brake rather than an accelerator on the road to Brussels is now fully discredited. EU Commissioner Verheugen underlined this basic notion two days ago. And then he added: "If countries (in SEE) want to join the European Union, they have to demonstrate that they can develop regional cooperation and solve their problems together with their neighbours."

But the international community has also kept its promise given in 1999 at the Stability Pact Summits in Cologne and Sarajevo. The successful launch of the Quick Start Package in Brussels in 2000, the acceleration of the EU accession process for Bulgaria and Romania, the Stabilisation and Association Process qualifying five additional SEE countries as potential candidates for EU-membership and Moldova joining the Stability Pact have been the litmus test for the seriousness of the International Community to fully support the efforts of SEE countries.

I am convinced that the outcome of this conference will clearly reinforce this message.

But where there is light, there is shadow. Both sides would have often hoped for faster delivery by the other side.

This pertains to the strengthening of democratic institutions, the improvement in the investment climate and enhancement of internal security in SEE countries. By the same token, developments in Macedonia were a clear setback for all of us.

On the other hand, I believe that the common approach towards SEE countries, upon which the International Community has agreed within the framework of the Stability Pact, has yet to become a self-sustaining process. We need to continue our intensive work not only within Europe, but also together with the G8 and all the other partners.

In most cases there is no lack of political will or any absence of a unified approach to achieve a common goal. What is also needed is to make rapid implementation just as much a part of our political consensus. The German language has a proverb, whose charm can best be captured in the English phrase: "Action speaks louder than words". Without prompt implementation the upward spiral of hope and optimism that I currently see in SEE can easily turn into a downward spiral of disillusionment and resignation.

This is especially true for cases where unacceptable or unacceptably long procedures, not backed up by political leadership, get tangled in a Gordian knot which seemingly no one can cut. The clearing of the Danube in Yugoslavia is such an example, where unfortunately - despite manifest political will - no breakthroughs have been achieved. During my visit last week in Belgrade, Deputy Prime Minister Labus pledged again to intervene personally in the search for a solution. I know that Chris Patten, too, is following this issue with the highest priority.

This is why it is so important to me that we meet here today on a political level. The political leadership of all participants must be involved in resolving outstanding problems so that we can move ahead more rapidly and commitments can be kept, especially as over the next two days new commitments will be made. It was important to me, that beyond discussing and re-confirming the strategies in the Stability Pact's priority areas during this conference, we also highlight regional projects for which financing has already been secured.

As was the case at the last financing conference in Brussels, this meeting is not meant to be a classical pledging conference. I am opposed to stating abstract monetary amounts. Rather, I want to clearly show the purposes for which the money is spent. Only in this way can we guarantee transparency in project implementation.

I am optimistic that we will see positive results for all three Working Tables at this Conference. Naturally, the package of infrastructure projects put together by the EIB, EBRD and the World Bank will have the most impressive figures. I am especially grateful for this work. At the same time, I also expect strong donor support for the equally important - and for the peaceful coexistence in South Eastern Europe, vital - issues of democratisation & human rights and security within the context of the respective working tables.

Version in German